GSAT-6A was a communication satellite launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) It featured a unfurlable S-band antenna similar to the one used on

GSAT-6 INSAT-4E, also known as GSAT-6, is a member of the INSAT family and is a multimedia communication satellite that will offer a Satellite Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (S-DMB) service across several digital multimedia terminals or consoles which ca ...

. Around 17 minutes after lift-off, the three stage

GSLV Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) is an expendable launch system operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). GSLV was used in fourteen launches from 2001 to 2021. Even though GSLV Mark III shares the name, it is an ...

Mk.II rocket flying on GSLV F08 mission successfully injected the satellite into a

geosynchronous A geosynchronous orbit (sometimes abbreviated GSO) is an Earth-centered orbit with an orbital period that matches Earth's rotation on its axis, 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds (one sidereal day). The synchronization of rotation and orbital ...

transfer orbit. Due to power failure during its orbit raising burns the communication was lost with GSAT-6A before it could reach its final circular geostationary orbit (GSO).

History

GSAT-6A was launched to complement

satellite which was launched in August 2015 by ISRO. The cost of building GSAT-6A was around ₹270 crore. GSAT-6A was to provide mobile communication services to the

Indian Armed Forces The Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of India. It consists of three professional uniformed services: the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force.—— Additionally, the Indian Armed Forces are supported by th ...

Launch

GSLV-F08 carrying GSAT-6A spacecraft was launched from Second Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre on 29 March 2018, 11:26 UTC and after flight of 17 minutes 45 seconds, placed GSAT-6A into its planned geostationary transfer orbit with apogee, perigee and orbital inclination of 20.64°. GSAT-6A spacecraft deployed its solar array after separation from CUS and established contact with ground station. On GSLV-F08, a High Thrust

Vikas engine The Vikas (a portmanteau from initials of ''VIK''ram ''A''mbalal ''S''arabhai ) is a family of liquid fuelled rocket engines conceptualized and designed by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in the 1970s. The design was based on the licensed ...

(HTVE) was inducted on second stage (GS2) of GSLV with 6% higher thrust than before. The improved engine increased the payload capability of the vehicle. The electrohydraulic actuation system on second stage was also replaced with simpler and robust electromechanical system. The Cryogenic Upper Stage of GSLV F08 performed a burn to depletion for the first time. Officials said any improvement done to the vehicle would be incorporated into GSLV's future missions.

Loss of communication

The first orbit raising maneuver for GSAT-6A was carried out as planned on 30 March 2018 by firing the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) for 2188 seconds from 09:22 AM IST. The second orbit raising maneuver was carried out at 10:00 AM on 31 March 2018. As the satellite was on-course for its third and final orbit raising maneuver on 1 April 2018, communication with it was lost and the spacecraft was temporarily untraceable. After regaining its track, efforts to re-establish communication with the satellite could not succeed. Power system malfunction was suspected to be the reason behind loss of contact.

Satellite replacement

ISRO will launch GSAT-32 satellite as replacement for GSAT-6A.

References

{{Commons category, GSAT-6A GSAT satellites Spacecraft launched by India in 2018 Spacecraft launched by GSLV rockets

History

Launch

Loss of communication

Satellite replacement

See also

References